Avian Influenza H5 Variant Detection in WA a 'Distant Concern' for Victoria

The head of Victoria's peak farming group says the detection of the deadly H5 variant of avian influenza in Western Australia is a "distant concern" for Victorians.

The disease was found in a bird that washed up on a remote beach in Western Australia's south, the first time this variant has been found in mainland Australia.

A West Australian vet was walking along a beach near Esperance with a friend last Sunday, when by chance stumbled on the sick bird, which later tested positive for the virus.

Today, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said a second case in Western Australia was being investigated.

The virus, which has infected millions of birds worldwide, has now finally spread to every continent on the planet.

But Victorian Farmers Federation president Ryan Milgate said it was still a long way from Victoria.

"Right now we're talking about what preparedness looks like … but we're well prepared.

"We've been through the processes and understand what needs to happen."

Mr Milgate said it was still cause for concern, and if it were to travel there was no way of protecting the free-range poultry industry from migratory birds.

"And there's a risk that it can spread into dairy herds and have some health impacts there as well."

Victorian Farmers Federation egg group president Brian Ahmed said the discovery was not a surprise to the industry.

"We've been aware of the avian influenza virus for some time and we've been watching it closely worldwide," Mr Ahmed said.

"But at the moment with one bird on a remote place in WA, we're not overly concerned, but we are very vigilant and preparing for the worst."

Not if but when

Mr Ahmed said it was not a matter of if but when it arrived.

"This highlights the importance of all our farming systems," he said.

In 2024, Australia dealt with its largest ever outbreak of bird flu, with more than 1 million birds culled in Victoria from the H7N8 strain.

Last year, detections of the H7N8 strain were found on four commercial properties near Euroa in Victoria, where hundreds of thousands of birds were euthanased.

"Apparently this H5 virus is far more virulent and spreads far more quickly and would have more impact than the H7 virus," Mr Ahmed said.

"And so that really concerns us because we lost over 2 million birds a few years ago.

"So if this spreads a lot quicker, we'll be culling a lot more birds than we did the first time."

'Taking every precaution we can'

Last week, the federal government said it would offer an additional $11.2 million to "further ramp up efforts to prepare our most at-risk native species from a potential outbreak of H5 avian influenza".

Mr Marles said: "We are the last continent to be touched by it."

"We're investing $113 million in seeing Australia be prepared for it.

"We are concerned and are obviously taking every precaution we can here to mitigate this and try and contain it.

"Australians, farmers and the agricultural sector should take some comfort that [Australian] agencies are some of the best in the world."

In a statement to the ABC, the state government said although there was no detection of the H5N1 in Victoria, it was a reminder that "we cannot be complacent".

"Protecting Victoria's agricultural industries and native wildlife is our priority," a spokesperson said.

"We're working closely with governments, industry and experts across Australia to ensure we're prepared and ready to respond."